| Description | The majority of the material in this file consists of letters from Som Kaushik, General Secretary of the Huddersfield branch, to Jagmohan Joshi, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association, dating between 1967 and 1969, mainly discussing some of the Indian Workers Association campaigns during this period. There is also a letter from Jhalman Singh Sahota to Joshi, dated September 1965 about the formation of a Huddersfield branch, asking to be connected with the national Indian Workers Association, and requesting a copy of the constitution.
Correspondence from Som Kaushik consists of:
/2 letter of support for the strikers at Coneygre Foundry Ltd in Tipton, also expressing concerns about the need for the Indian Workers Association to have a unified approach to the problems facing immigrants, and to resist attempts at assimilation by the government and local authorities, May 1967
/3 confirming his position as assistant general secretary of the Huddersfield branch, June 1967
/4 letter of support for the forthcoming National Conference in Leicester 1967, and expressing concern that Joshi has not replied to a letter about injustices done to Indians, November 1967
/5-/6 concerning the mass lobby of parliament organised by the Indian Workers Association on 28 February 1968, and enclosing a copy of a letter from the Huddersfield branch to the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, and David Ennals, the Under-Secretary of State for Immigration and Race Relations protesting against proposals to impose further restrictions on black and Asian migrants entering Britain
/7 supporting proposed militant action to be taken by the Indian Workers Association following a forthcoming meeting, April 1968, possibly after a racist speech made by Enoch Powell in Birmingham a few days earlier
/8 expressing support for demonstrations organised by the Indian Workers Association in January 1969, probably during the Commonwealth Prime Ministers conference that took place in London at this time
/9-/10 expressing concern about the divisions within the Indian Workers Association created due to political and individual differences, and stating the need for a united Indian community, having contacted the leadership of Indian Workers Association Southall and the other faction of the Indian Workers Association (GB) in an attempt to bring about a resolution of the issues.
The correspondence also includes:
/11-/12 copy letter from Joshi suggesting a meeting with Kaushik and others to discuss matters raised in his letters relating to promoting unity with other Indian Workers associations, together with a reply from G.S Gill, General Secretary of the Huddersfield branch, August 1969
The file also contains a flyer in English and Punjabi, giving details about a memorial rally for Charn Singh Cheema, to be held at Huddersfield Town Hall, 21 May 1989 |